Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Papiro’

ABSTRACT

A new plant variety of chrysanthemum producing flowers with white ray florets and orange disc florets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a new and distinct variety ofchrysanthemum morifolium. The varietal denomination of the newchrysanthemum is ‘PAPIRO’.

The new variety is a cross of ‘Scorpio’ (believed to be unpatented) asseed parent and ‘Tripoli’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,207) as pollen parent.The new variety has been asexually reproduced by vegetative cuttings inVentura County, Calif. and the distinguishing characteristics areretained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘PAPIRO’ is a chrysanthemum plant that produces flowers with white rayflorets and orange disc florets.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

‘PAPIRO’ differs from its parent ‘Scorpio’ in having larger flowers andfrom its parent ‘Tripoli’ in having white ray florets whereas the parenthas purple ray florets.

COMPARISON WITH OTHER VARIETIES

The following is a comparison to the commercial varieties ‘GEDI WT8’(U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,648), ‘Pidoul’ and ‘Empire Aspen’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 7,885):

‘GEDI ‘Empire WT8’ ‘PAPIRO’ ‘Pidoul’ Aspen’ Inflorescence 4.5 cm 6 cm2.5 to 3 cm 5 cm Diameter Ray Floret Near 158D Near 155D Near 155D Near155D coloration when mature Quantity of About 30 Between About 30Between Ray florets 50 to 60 45 to 50 Quantity of About 12 About 15Between About 8 Inflorescence 12 to 15 per stem Height About AboutBetween About 18 cm 23 cm 25 to 30 cm 20 cm Natural Early End ofMid-September First week Season October September of September BloomGeneral ‘PAPIRO’ ‘PAPIRO’ has ‘PAPIRO’ Commercial has pure larger rayhas a larger Comparison white ray florets and number of florets longerlasting inflorescence and longer inflorescence and a much lasting moreflexible inflorescence plant form

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIONS

The accompanying photograph shows a typical specimen of the plant andflowers of the new variety with colors being as nearly true as possiblewith illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following description of the new variety is of specimens grown in agreenhouse in Ventura County, Calif. The age of the described plant isapproximately 120 days old from a rooted cutting. ‘PAPIRO’ has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary with variations in the environment such as temperature, lightintensity, day length and cultural conditions. The color designationsherein are from The Royal Horticutural Society Colour Chart except wheregeneral terms are used.

To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once about tendays after planting. No growth retardant has been applied in thespecimens described. Useful growing conditions include average nighttemperatures of about 17° C. to 20° C. and average day temperatures ofabout 20° C. to 30° C. No susceptibility or resistance to disease hasbeen observed. Resistance or susceptibility to insects has not beenobserved. Seed production has not been observed. Winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance have not been observed.

ROOTING CHARACTERISTICS

Time to initiate roots: About 7 to 14 days at about 21° C.

Root Description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

Plant type: Herbaceous perennial.

Growth habit: Mounding.

Size: Length about 23 cm, width about 25 cm.

Growth rate: Moderate.

Branching characteristics: Very free branching, lateral branches areabout 20 cm in length, 0.5 cm in diameter and near 138C in color.

FOLIAGE

Arrangement: Alternate.

Compound or Simple: Simple.

Quantity of leaves: Many.

Leaf size:

Length.—About 6 cm.

Width.—About 4 cm.

Leaf shape: Ovate.

Leaf tip: Acuminate.

Leaf base: Attenuate.

Leaf attachment: Stalked.

Petiole: Length about 2 cm, diameter about 0.3 cm, color near 137C.

Margin type: Serrate.

Texture: Lightly pubescent.

Color:

Young foliage upper side.—Near 138A.

Young foliage under side.—Near 138B.

Mature foliage upper side.—Near 137A.

Mature foliage under side.—Near 138B.

Venation: Net.

Color.—Venation upper side: Near 137C. Venation under side: Near 137D.

BLOOM

Inflorescence:

Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than 13.5 hours.Approximately 50 days of day length required to induce and developblooms.

Inflorescence form.—Daisy.

Natural flowering season.—Around the last week in September and earlyOctober in Ventura County, Calif.

Quantity of inflorescences per stem.—About 15.

Length.—About 1 cm.

Width.—About 0.1 cm.

Color.—First opening: Near 23A. Mature: Near 23B. Fading: Near 24B.

Peduncle:

Length.—Terminal, shortest: About 4 cm. Lateral, longest: About 8 cm.

Diameter.—About 0.3 cm.

Color.—Near 138A.

Strength.—Moderate.

Habit.—Erect.

Inflorescence bud:

Length.—About 1 cm.

Diameter.—About 1 cm.

Form or shape.—Globular.

Color.—Near 18D.

Involucral bracts: Length about 0.7 cm, width about 0.4 cm.

Appearance.—Matte.

Texture.—Lightly pubescent.

Number.—About 20 to 30.

Shape.—Ovate.

Margin.—Entire.

Tip.—Acute.

Color.—Upper side: Near 138A. Under side: Near 138A.

Inflorescence diameter.—About 6 cm.

Inflorescence depth.—About 2 cm.

Disc diameter.—About 2 cm.

Inflorescence longevity on plant.—About 18 to 22 days.

Persistence.—Persistent.

Ray florets:

Appearance.—Matte.

Texture.—Smooth.

Number.—About 50 to 60.

Shape.—Oblanceolate.

Margin.—Entire.

Pistil.—Length about 0.8 cm.

Tip.—Obtuse.

Length.—About 2 cm.

Width.—About 1 cm.

Color.—Upper side: First opening: Near 13D. Mature: Near 155D. Fading:Near 155D. Under side: First opening: Near 18D. Mature: Near 155D.Fading: Near 155D.

Disc florets:

Appearance.—Shiny.

Texture.—Smooth.

Number.—Over 200.

Shape.—Cylindric.

Pistil.—Length about 0.5 cm.

Tip.—Obtuse.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Ray florets:

Pistillate.—Pistil number: 1 per flower. Stigma shape: 2 branched.Stigma color: Near 7D. Style length: About 1 cm. Style color: Near 6D.

Disc florets:

Pistillate.—Pistil number: 1 per flower. Stigma shape: Cylindric. Stylelength: About 0.8 cm.

Staminate.—Stamen number: About 5. Anther shape: Tubular. Anther color:Near 16A. Pollen color: Near 20A.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct chrysanthemum plant of thevariety substantially as herein shown and described.